Continuation of the Last Homecoming

November 26, 1896

- After the preliminary investigation, Colonel Olive transferred the records of the case to
Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco and to the special judge advocate, Capt. Rafael Dominguez.
- As Dominguez conducted a brief resume of the charges, he then returned the papers to
Gov. Gen. Blanco who later gives the papers to Judge Advocate. Don Nicolas de la Pena
for an opinion.
After examining the Papers
Judge Advocate. Don Nicolas de la Pena submitted the following recommendations:
1. The accused should be immediately brought to trial
2. He should be kept in prison
3. An order is issued against his property for an amount of 1 million pesos as indemnity.
4. He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian lawyer.
RIZAL CHOOSES HIS DEFENDER
- Rizal was only given by the Spanish authorities to choose his defense council out of 100
presented to him.
- Out of all the names presented, Luis Taviel de Andrade, is the name familiar to him,
which was the brother of Lt. Jose Taviel Andrade, his former “body guard in Calamba”.

READING OF INFORMATION OF CHARGES TO THE ACCUSED

December 11, 1896
The information is formally read to Rizal in his prison cell.
- He was accused of being the “principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino”.
- A founder of societies, periodicals, and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating the
ideas of rebellion except not taking any parts in politics since his exile in Dapitan.

RIZAL’S MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE

December 15, 1896
- Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people to stop shedding their blood and to achieve liberty
through education and industry.
- His manifesto was not issued to the people due to the suppression recommendation of
Judge Advocate Gen. Nicolas de la Pena to Gov. Gen. Polavieja. Thus Rizal was “saved
from the shame of his manifesto being misinterpreted and disobeyed by the Filipinos in
arms”.
RIZAL’S SADDEST CHRISTMAS
December 25, 1896
- The saddest day in his life and his last Christmas; alone and depressed in a dreary prison
cell.
- He wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade while worrying in his hopeless case.

Contents of the letter

Fort Santiago,
December 25, 1896
My Very Distinguished Defender:
The Investigating Judge has informed me that tomorrow my case will be heard before the court. I
was waiting for you this morning to tell you of an important matter, but undoubtedly the pressure
of your work did not permit you to come as expected by the Investigating Judge. If you have
time, I should like to speak to you before I appear the court; I shall be grateful if you come this
afternoon, this evening, or tomorrow. Wishing you “Merry Christmas” I reiterate,

Always your attentive and affectionate servant and client,

Jose Rizal